Hemp cultivar TM1

ABSTRACT

One embodiment relates to seed and plants of hemp cultivar TM1. Another embodiment relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of hemp cultivar TM1, and to methods for producing a hemp plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves, with another hemp plant, such as a plant of another genotype, or with vegetatively propagating said plant. Another embodiment further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. Further embodiments relate to parts of such plants, and products produced.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/486,114, as filed on Apr. 17, 2017, entitled “Hemp Cultivar TM1”,the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference forall purposes.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments recited herein relates to a novel and distinct hemp(Cannabis sativa) cultivar designated TM1, and to the seeds, plants,plant parts, and tissue culture produced by that hemp cultivar. Theembodiments further relate to products produced from hemp cultivar TM1.All publications cited in this application are herein incorporated byreference.

Industrial hemp (also known as textile hemp) has many uses. The stem ofthis fiber crop supplies both cellulosic and woody fibers. The core islignified, while the cortex harbors long cellulose-rich fibers, known asbast fibers. Some of uses of industrial hemp include paper, textiles,biodegradable plastics, construction, body care products (for example,oils and lotions), food (for example flour, protein powder, coffee,milk, etc.), animal food, and fuel. Hemp pellets are produced fromCannabis woody fibers, also known as “shivs” or “hurds”. The fiber isfirst separated and goes to make clothing and other products. The largeshiv particles can then be used in construction in combination withlime. After all this processing has taken place there are small shivparticles remaining which can be processed into hemp pellets. Hemp bastfibers are used in the biocomposite sector as a substitute of glassfibers. The automotive industry is particularly keen on using hemp bastfibers to produce bioplastics; this material is stronger thanpolypropylene plastic and lighter in weight.

Also of use are cannabinoids, which are a group of chemical compoundsderived from Cannabis sativa. There are at least 85 differentcannabinoids that can be isolated from cannabis. Cannabinoids are cyclicmolecules exhibiting particular properties, such as the ability toeasily cross the blood-brain barrier, weak toxicity, and few sideeffects. The most notable cannabinoids produced by cannabis areA9-tetrahydrocannabinol (i.e., THC) and cannabidiol (i.e., CBD).

According to a 2013 review published in the British Journal of ClinicalPharmacology, studies have found CBD to possess antiemetic,anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant,anti-tumoral, anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects. CBD also possessan important anti-bacterial effect.

Industrial hemp has attractiveness as a source of CBD because it isavailable in huge amounts, as a waste product from various industries.At the same time, because of the relatively low content of cannabinoids,the use of industrial hemp poses additional challenges in making theextraction process economically viable.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations relatedtherewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Otherlimitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill inthe art upon a reading of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The patent or application file may contain one or more drawings executedin color and/or one or more photographs. Copies of this patent or patentapplication publication with color drawing(s) and/or photograph(s) willbe provided by the Patent Office upon request and payment of thenecessary fee.

The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive,example embodiments and/or features. It is intended that the embodimentsand figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative ratherthan limiting.

FIG. 1 shows a wide view of a field of hemp cultivar TM1 growing inCastle Rock, Colo.

FIG. 2 shows a close up view of the inflorescence of TM1 as well as theupper surface and lower surface of the leaflets.

SUMMARY

It is to be understood that the embodiments include a variety ofdifferent versions or embodiments, and this Summary is not meant to belimiting or all-inclusive. This Summary provides some generaldescriptions of some of the embodiments, but may also include some morespecific descriptions of other embodiments.

An embodiment provides an industrial hemp cultivar designated TM1.Another embodiment relates to the seeds of hemp cultivar TM1, to theplants of hemp cultivar TM1, and to methods for producing a cannabisplant by crossing hemp cultivar TM1 with itself or another cannabisplant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation ofhemp cultivar TM1.

Any such methods using hemp cultivar TM1 are a further embodiment:selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and thelike. All plants produced using hemp cultivar TM1 as at least one parentare within the scope of the embodiments. Advantageously, hemp cultivarTM1 could be used in crosses with other, different plants to producefirst generation (F₁) hybrid seeds and plants with superiorcharacteristics.

Another embodiment provides for single or multiple gene converted plantsof hemp cultivar TM1. The transferred gene(s) may be a dominant orrecessive allele. The transferred gene(s) may confer such traits asherbicide tolerance, insect tolerance, tolerance for bacterial, fungal,or viral disease, male fertility, male sterility, enhanced nutritionalquality, environmental stress tolerance, modified yield, modified oilcontent, and modified industrial usage. The gene may be naturallyoccurring or a transgene introduced through genetic engineeringtechniques.

Another embodiment provides for regenerable cells for use in tissueculture of hemp cultivar TM1. The tissue culture may be capable ofregenerating plants having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the foregoing hemp plant, and of regenerating plantshaving substantially the same genotype as the foregoing hemp plant. Theregenerable cells in such tissue cultures may be embryos, protoplasts,meristematic cells, callus, pollen, leaves, ovules, anthers, cotyledons,hypocotyl, pistils, roots, root tips, flowers, seeds, plant, petiole, orstems. Still a further embodiment provides for hemp plants regeneratedfrom the tissue cultures of hemp cultivar TM1.

Another embodiment relates to a method of vegetatively propagating hempcultivar TM1 comprising the steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable ofbeing propagated from the plant; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtainproliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtainrooted plantlets.

Another embodiment provides for a method for producing a seed of a hempplant derived from hemp cultivar TM1 comprising the steps of: (a)crossing the hemp plant with itself or a second hemp plant, and (b)allowing seed of a TM1-derived hemp plant to form.

Further embodiments provide for a method of producing a commodity plantproduct from hemp cultivar TM1.

As used herein, “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” areopen-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive inoperation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, Band C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “oneor more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, Calone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B andC together.

Various embodiments are set forth in the Detailed Description asprovided herein and as embodied by the claims. It should be understood,however, that this Summary does not contain all of the aspects andembodiments, is not meant to be limiting or restrictive in any manner,and that embodiment(s) as disclosed herein is/are understood by those ofordinary skill in the art to encompass obvious improvements andmodifications thereto.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above,further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by study of thefollowing descriptions.

Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided:

Industrial hemp or simply “hemp”: The U.S. Farm Bill of 2014 identifiesthe term “industrial hemp” to mean the plant Cannabis sativa L. and anypart of such plant, whether growing or not, with adelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3% on adry weight basis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hemp cultivar TM1 has shown uniformity and stability, as described inthe following variety description information. Hemp cultivar TM1 wastested for uniformity and stability a sufficient number of generationswith careful attention to uniformity of plant type and has beenincreased with continued observation for uniformity.

Hemp cultivar TM1 has the following morphologic and othercharacteristics based primarily on data collected in Castle Rock, Colo.

-   -   Classification:        -   Family: Cannabacaeae        -   Species: Cannabis sativa L.        -   Denomination: TM1    -   Propagation: Seed    -   Plant description:        -   Height: Approximately 13 ft to 16 ft        -   Diameter: Approximately 1 ft to 8 ft        -   Time to flower: 85 to 100 days        -   Growth: Very vigorous annual    -   Stem:        -   Length of main stem (without inflorescence): Approximately            10 ft to 12 ft        -   Branching: Branching occurs from the ground up        -   Texture: Slightly rough        -   Lateral branch length: Up to 4 ft    -   Foliage:        -   Type: Compound        -   Arrangement: Decussate-opposite        -   Leaflet margin: Serrate        -   Leaflet color, upper surface: Close to RHS 146B and RHS 147B        -   Leaflet color, lower surface: Close to RHS 146C and RHS 147C    -   Seed: Small black seeds, approximately 56,000 per pound    -   Tolerance: Very cold tolerant

The oil composition of hemp cultivar TM1 is shown in Table 1 below. Twosamples of one half gram of flower each were tested using highperformance liquid chromatography. Column one lists the oil compound,and columns two and three list the percent based on inflorescence dryweight. All cannabinoids in their acid forms can be converted intoactive forms. Thus, the maximum THC and CBD was calculated bymultiplying the acid forms (TCH-A and CBD-A) by 87.7%.

TABLE 1 Weight Percentage Oil Sample date 1 Sample date 2 Cannabidivarin(CBD-V) <0.001% <0.001% Cannabidiolic Acid (CBD-A) 6.93% 8.08%Cannabigerolic acid (CBG-A) 0.16% 0.34% Cannabigerol (CBG) <0.001%<0.001% Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THC-V) <0.001% <0.001% Cannabinol (CBN)<0.001% <0.001% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) <0.001% <0.001%Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A) 0.25% 0.29% Cannabichromene (CBC)<0.001% <0.001% Max THC 0.22% 0.26% Max CBD 6.08% 7.09 Total Active0.16% 0.34 Total 7.34% 8.71

As shown above in Table 1, hemp cultivar TM1 has a maximum THC contentof less than 0.3% and a CBD content that ranges between 6.08% and 7.08%.

Breeding with Hemp Cultivar TM1

The complexity of inheritance influences choice of the breeding method.Backcross breeding is used to transfer one or a few favorable genes fora highly heritable trait into a desirable variety. This approach hasbeen used extensively for breeding disease-resistant varieties. Variousrecurrent selection techniques are used to improve quantitativelyinherited traits controlled by numerous genes. The use of recurrentselection in self-pollinating crops depends on the ease of pollination,the frequency of successful hybrids from each pollination, and thenumber of hybrid offspring from each successful cross.

Promising advanced breeding cultivars are thoroughly tested and comparedto appropriate standards in environments representative of thecommercial target area(s) for three or more years. The best cultivarsare candidates for new commercial varieties; those still deficient in afew traits may be used as parents to produce new populations for furtherselection.

These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing anddistribution, is a time-consuming process that requires precise forwardplanning, efficient use of resources, and a minimum of changes indirection.

A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that aregenetically superior, because for most traits the true genotypic valueis masked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors.One method of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performancerelative to other experimental plants and to a widely grown standardvariety. If a single observation is inconclusive, replicatedobservations provide a better estimate of its genetic worth.

The goal of hemp breeding is to develop new and superior hemp varietiesand hybrids. The breeder initially selects and crosses two or moreparental cultivars, followed by repeated selfing and selection,producing many new genetic combinations. The breeder can theoreticallygenerate billions of different genetic combinations via crossing,selection, selfing and mutations.

Using Hemp Cultivar TM1 to Develop Other Hemp Varieties

Hemp varieties such as hemp cultivar TM1 are typically developed forindustrial usage. However, hemp varieties such as hemp cultivar TM1 alsoprovide a source of breeding material that may be used to develop newhemp varieties. Plant breeding techniques known in the art and used in ahemp breeding program include, but are not limited to, recurrentselection, mass selection, bulk selection, mass selection, backcrossing,pedigree breeding, open pollination breeding, restriction fragmentlength polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhancedselection, making double haploids, transformation, and gene editing.These techniques can be used singularly or in combinations. Thedevelopment of hemp varieties in a breeding program requires, ingeneral, the development and evaluation of homozygous varieties. Thereare many analytical methods available to evaluate a new variety. Theoldest and most traditional method of analysis is the observation ofphenotypic traits, but genotypic analysis may also be used.

Additional Breeding Methods

One embodiment is directed to methods for producing a hemp plant bycrossing a first parent hemp plant with a second parent hemp plant,wherein the first or second hemp plant is the hemp plant from hempcultivar TM1. Further, both first and second parent hemp plants may befrom hemp cultivar TM1. Any plants produced using hemp cultivar TM1 asat least one parent are also within the scope of the embodiments. Thesemethods are well known in the art and some of the more commonly usedbreeding methods are described herein. Descriptions of breeding methodscan be found in one of several reference books (e.g., Allard, Principlesof Plant Breeding (1960); Simmonds, Principles of Crop Improvement(1979); Sneep, et al. (1979); Cooper, S. G., D. S. Douches and E. J.Grafius. 2004.

The following describes breeding methods that may be used with hempcultivar TM1 in the development of further hemp plants. One suchembodiment is a method for developing a hemp cultivar TM1 progeny plantin a hemp breeding program comprising: obtaining the hemp plant, or apart thereof, of hemp cultivar TM1, utilizing said plant, or plant part,as a source of breeding material, and selecting an hemp cultivar TM1progeny plant with molecular markers in common with hemp cultivar TM1and/or with morphological and/or physiological characteristics disclosedherein. Breeding steps that may be used in the hemp plant breedingprogram include pedigree breeding, backcrossing, mutation breeding, andrecurrent selection. In conjunction with these steps, techniques such asRFLP-enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection (for example,SSR markers), and the making of double haploids may be utilized.

Another method involves producing a population of hemp cultivar TM1progeny hemp plants, comprising crossing hemp cultivar TM1 with anotherhemp plant, thereby producing a population of hemp plants which derive50% of their alleles from hemp cultivar TM1. A plant of this populationmay be selected and repeatedly selfed or sibbed with an hemp cultivarresulting from these successive filial generations. One embodiment isthe hemp cultivar produced by this method and that has obtained at least50% of its alleles from hemp cultivar TM1.

One of ordinary skill in the art of plant breeding would know how toevaluate the traits of two plant varieties to determine if there is nosignificant difference between the two traits expressed by thosevarieties. For example, see, Fehr and Walt, Principles of VarietyDevelopment, pp. 261-286 (1987). Thus, embodiments include hemp cultivarTM1 progeny hemp plants comprising a combination of at least two hempcultivar TM1 traits disclosed herein, so that said progeny hemp plant isnot significantly different for said traits than hemp cultivar TM1 asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions. Using techniques described herein, molecularmarkers may be used to identify said progeny plant as a hemp cultivarTM1 progeny plant. Mean trait values may be used to determine whethertrait differences are significant, and preferably the traits aremeasured on plants grown under the same environmental conditions. Oncesuch a variety is developed, its value is substantial since it isimportant to advance the germplasm base as a whole in order to maintainor improve traits such as yield, disease tolerance, pest tolerance, andplant performance in extreme environmental conditions.

Progeny of hemp cultivar TM1 may also be characterized through theirfilial relationship with hemp cultivar TM1, as for example, being withina certain number of breeding crosses of hemp cultivar TM1. A breedingcross is a cross made to introduce new genetics into the progeny, and isdistinguished from a self or a sib cross, which is made to select amongexisting genetic alleles. The lower the number of breeding crosses inthe pedigree, the closer the relationship between hemp cultivar TM1 andits progeny. For example, progeny produced by the methods describedherein may be within 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 breeding crosses of hemp cultivarTM1.

Pedigree Breeding

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, such ashemp cultivar TM1 and another hemp cultivar having one or more desirablecharacteristics that is lacking or which complements hemp cultivar TM1.If the two original parents do not provide all the desiredcharacteristics, other sources can be included in the breedingpopulation. In the pedigree method, superior plants are selfed andselected in successive filial generations. In the succeeding filialgenerations, the heterozygous condition gives way to homogeneousvarieties as a result of self-pollination and selection. Typically inthe pedigree method of breeding, five or more successive filialgenerations of selfing and selection is practiced: F₁ to F₂; F₂ to F₃;F₃ to F₄; F₄ to F₅; etc. After a sufficient amount of inbreeding,successive filial generations will serve to increase seed of thedeveloped variety. Preferably, the developed variety compriseshomozygous alleles at about 95% or more of its loci.

Backcross Breeding

Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genes for a simplyinherited, highly heritable trait into a desirable homozygous variety orinbred cultivar which is the recurrent parent. The source of the traitto be transferred is called the donor parent. After the initial cross,individuals possessing the phenotype of the donor parent are selectedand repeatedly crossed (backcrossed) to the recurrent parent. Theresulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrentparent (e.g., variety) and the desirable trait transferred from thedonor parent. This is also known as single gene conversion and/orbackcross conversion.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some agronomically important trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered to determine an appropriate testing protocol.Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristicbeing transferred is a dominant allele, a recessive allele may also betransferred. In this instance, it may be necessary to introduce a testof the progeny to determine if the desired characteristic has beensuccessfully transferred.

A backcross conversion of hemp cultivar TM1 occurs when DNA sequencesare introduced through backcrossing, with hemp cultivar TM1 utilized asthe recurrent parent. Both naturally occurring and transgenic DNAsequences may be introduced through backcrossing techniques. A backcrossconversion may produce a plant with a trait or locus conversion in atleast two or more backcrosses, including at least 2 crosses, at least 3crosses, at least 4 crosses, at least 5 crosses, and the like. Molecularmarker assisted breeding or selection may be utilized to reduce thenumber of backcrosses necessary to achieve the backcross conversion. Forexample, see, Frisch M. et al, “Marker-Assisted Backcrossing forSimultaneous Introgression of Two Genes” Crop Science Society ofAmerica, pp 1716-1725 (2001) and Openshaw, S. J., et al.,“Marker-assisted Selection in Backcross Breeding, Proceedings Symposiumof the Analysis of Molecular Data” Crop Science Society of America,Corvallis, Oreg. (August 1994), where it was demonstrated that abackcross conversion could be made in as few as two backcrosses.

The complexity of the backcross conversion method depends on the type oftrait being transferred (single genes or closely linked genes ascompared to unlinked genes), the level of expression of the trait, thetype of inheritance (cytoplasmic or nuclear), and the types of parentsincluded in the cross. It is understood by those of ordinary skill inthe art that for single gene traits that are relatively easy toclassify, the backcross method is effective and relatively easy tomanage. Desired traits that may be transferred through backcrossconversion include, but are not limited to, sterility (nuclear andcytoplasmic), fertility restoration, drought tolerance, nitrogenutilization, industrial enhancements, disease tolerance (bacterial,fungal, or viral), insect tolerance, and herbicide tolerance. Inaddition, an introgression site itself, such as an FRT site, Lox site,or other site specific integration site, may be inserted by backcrossingand utilized for direct insertion of one or more genes of interest intoa specific plant variety. In some embodiments, the number of loci thatmay be backcrossed into hemp cultivar TM1 is at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5,and/or no more than 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2. A single locus may contain severaltransgenes, such as a transgene for disease tolerance that, in the sameexpression vector, also contains a transgene for herbicide tolerance.The gene for herbicide tolerance may be used as a selectable markerand/or as a phenotypic trait. A single locus conversion of site specificintegration system allows for the integration of multiple genes at theconverted loci.

The backcross conversion may result from either the transfer of adominant allele or a recessive allele. Selection of progeny containingthe trait of interest is accomplished by direct selection for a traitassociated with a dominant allele. Transgenes transferred viabackcrossing typically function as a dominant single gene trait and arerelatively easy to classify. Selection of progeny for a trait that istransferred via a recessive allele requires growing and selfing thefirst backcross generation to determine which plants carry the recessivealleles. Recessive traits may require additional progeny testing insuccessive backcross generations to determine the presence of the locusof interest. The last backcross generation is usually selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred, although abackcross conversion with a stably introgressed trait may also bemaintained by further backcrossing to the recurrent parent withselection for the converted trait.

Along with selection for the trait of interest, progeny are selected forthe phenotype of the recurrent parent. The backcross is a form ofinbreeding, and the features of the recurrent parent are automaticallyrecovered after successive backcrosses. Poehlman, “Breeding Field Crops”p. 204 (1987). Poehlman suggests from one to four or more backcrosses,but as noted above, the number of backcrosses necessary can be reducedwith the use of molecular markers. Other factors, such as a geneticallysimilar donor parent, may also reduce the number of backcrossesnecessary. As noted by Poehlman, backcrossing is easiest for simplyinherited, dominant, and easily recognized traits.

One process for adding or modifying a trait or locus in hemp cultivarTM1 comprises crossing hemp cultivar TM1 plants grown from hemp cultivarTM1 seed with plants of another hemp cultivar that comprise the desiredtrait or locus, selecting F₁ progeny plants that comprise the desiredtrait or locus to produce selected F₁ progeny plants, crossing theselected progeny plants with the hemp cultivar TM1 plants to producebackcross progeny plants, selecting for backcross progeny plants thathave the desired trait or locus and the morphological characteristics ofhemp cultivar TM1 to produce selected backcross progeny plants, andbackcrossing to hemp cultivar TM1 three or more times in succession toproduce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprisesaid trait or locus. The modified hemp cultivar TM1 may be furthercharacterized as having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of hemp cultivar TM1 listed in Table 1 as determined atthe 5% significance level when grown in the same environmentalconditions and/or may be characterized by percent similarity or identityto hemp cultivar TM1 as determined by SSR markers. The above method maybe utilized with fewer backcrosses in appropriate situations, such aswhen the donor parent is highly related or markers are used in theselection step. Desired traits that may be used include those nucleicacids known in the art, some of which are listed herein, that willaffect traits through nucleic acid expression or inhibition. Desiredloci include the introgression of FRT, Lox, and other sites for sitespecific integration, which may also affect a desired trait if afunctional nucleic acid is inserted at the integration site.

In addition, the above process and other similar processes describedherein may be used to produce first generation progeny hemp seed byadding a step at the end of the process that comprises crossing hempcultivar TM1 with the introgressed trait or locus with a different hempplant and harvesting the resultant first generation progeny hemp seed.

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new variety but that can beimproved by backcrossing techniques well-known in the art. Single genetraits may or may not be transgenic. Examples of these traits include,but are not limited to, herbicide tolerance, insect tolerance, tolerancefor bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, male fertility, male sterility,modified yield, and modified industrial usage.

In addition to being used to create a backcross conversion, backcrossingcan also be used in combination with pedigree breeding. As discussedpreviously, backcrossing can be used to transfer one or morespecifically desirable traits from one variety, the donor parent, to adeveloped variety called the recurrent parent, which has overall goodagronomic characteristics yet lacks that desirable trait or traits.However, the same procedure can be used to move the progeny toward thegenotype of the recurrent parent, but at the same time retain manycomponents of the nonrecurrent parent by stopping the backcrossing at anearly stage and proceeding with selfing and selection. For example, anhemp cultivar may be crossed with another variety to produce a firstgeneration progeny plant. The first generation progeny plant may then bebackcrossed to one of its parent varieties to create a BC₁ or BC₂.Progeny are selfed and selected so that the newly developed variety hasmany of the attributes of the recurrent parent and yet several of thedesired attributes of the nonrecurrent parent. This approach leveragesthe value and strengths of the recurrent parent for use in new hempvarieties.

Therefore, an embodiment of the present disclosure is a method of makinga backcross conversion hemp cultivar TM1, comprising the steps ofcrossing a plant of hemp cultivar TM1 with a donor plant comprising adesired trait, selecting an F₁ progeny plant comprising the desiredtrait, and backcrossing the selected F₁ progeny plant to a plant of hempcultivar TM1 to produce BC₁, BC₂, BC₃, etc. This method may furthercomprise the step of obtaining a molecular marker profile of hempcultivar TM1 and using the molecular marker profile to select for aprogeny plant with the desired trait and the molecular marker profile ofhemp cultivar TM1. In one embodiment, the desired trait is a mutantgene, gene, or transgene present in the donor parent.

Recurrent Selection and Mass Selection

Recurrent selection is a method used in a plant breeding program toimprove a population of plants. Hemp cultivar TM1 is suitable for use ina recurrent selection program. The method entails individual plantscross pollinating with each other to form progeny. The progeny are grownand the superior progeny selected by any number of selection methods,which include individual plant, half-sib progeny, full-sib progeny, andselfed progeny. The selected progeny are cross pollinated with eachother to form progeny for another population. This population is plantedand again superior plants are selected to cross pollinate with eachother. Recurrent selection is a cyclical process and therefore can berepeated as many times as desired. The objective of recurrent selectionis to improve the traits of a population. The improved population canthen be used as a source of breeding material to obtain new varietiesfor commercial or breeding use, including the production of a syntheticvariety. A synthetic variety is the resultant progeny formed by theintercrossing of several selected varieties.

Mass selection is a useful technique when used in conjunction withmolecular marker enhanced selection. In mass selection, seeds fromindividuals are selected based on phenotype or genotype. These selectedseeds are then bulked and used to grow the next generation. Bulkselection requires growing a population of plants in a bulk plot,allowing the plants to self-pollinate, harvesting the seed in bulk, andthen using a sample of the seed harvested in bulk to plant the nextgeneration. Also, instead of self-pollination, directed pollinationcould be used as part of the breeding program.

Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations ofeither self- or cross-pollinating crops. A genetically variablepopulation of heterozygous individuals is either identified, or created,by intercrossing several different parents. The plants are selectedbased on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellentcombining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a newpopulation in which further cycles of selection are continued.

Mutation Breeding

Mutation breeding is another method of introducing new traits into hempcultivar TM1. Mutations that occur spontaneously or are artificiallyinduced can be useful sources of variability for a plant breeder. Thegoal of artificial mutagenesis is to increase the rate of mutation for adesired characteristic. Mutation rates can be increased by manydifferent means including temperature, long-term seed storage, tissueculture conditions, radiation; such as X-rays, Gamma rays (e.g., cobalt60 or cesium 137), neutrons, (product of nuclear fission by uranium 235in an atomic reactor), Beta radiation (emitted from radioisotopes suchas phosphorus 32 or carbon 14), or ultraviolet radiation (preferablyfrom 2500 to 2900 nm), or chemical mutagens (such as base analogues(5-bromo-uracil)), related compounds (8-ethoxy caffeine), antibiotics(streptonigrin), alkylating agents (sulfur mustards, nitrogen mustards,epoxides, ethylenamines, sulfates, sulfonates, sulfones, lactones),azide, hydroxylamine, nitrous acid, or acridines. Once a desired traitis observed through mutagenesis the trait may then be incorporated intoexisting germplasm by traditional breeding techniques. Details ofmutation breeding can be found in Fehr, “Principles of VarietyDevelopment,” Macmillan Publishing Company (1993). In addition,mutations created in other hemp plants may be used to produce abackcross conversion of hemp cultivar TM1 that comprises such mutation.

Additional methods include, but are not limited to, expression vectorsintroduced into plant tissues using a direct gene transfer method, suchas microprojectile-mediated delivery, DNA injection, electroporation,and the like. More preferably, expression vectors are introduced intoplant tissues by using either microprojectile-mediated delivery with abiolistic device or by using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.Transformant plants obtained with the protoplasm of the embodiments areintended to be within the scope of the embodiments.

Gene Editing Using CRISPR

Targeted gene editing can be done using CRISPR/Cas9 technology (Saunders& Joung, Nature Biotechnology, 32, 347-355, 2014). CRISPR is a type ofgenome editing system that stands for Clustered Regularly InterspacedShort Palindromic Repeats. This system and CRISPR-associated (Cas) genesenable organisms, such as select bacteria and archaea, to respond to andeliminate invading genetic material. Ishino, Y., et al. J. Bacteriol.169, 5429-5433 (1987). These repeats were known as early as the 1980s inE. coli, but Barrangou and colleagues demonstrated that S. thermophiluscan acquire resistance against a bacteriophage by integrating a fragmentof a genome of an infectious virus into its CRISPR locus. Barrangou, R.,et al. Science 315, 1709-1712 (2007). Many plants have already beenmodified using the CRISPR system, see for example Noman, A. et al.,“CRISPR-Cas9: Tool for Qualitative and Quantitative Plant GenomeEditing” Frontiers in Plant Science Vol. 7 Nov. 2016.

Gene editing can also be done using crRNA-guided surveillance systemsfor gene editing. Additional information about crRNA-guided surveillancecomplex systems for gene editing can be found in the followingdocuments, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety: U.S.Application Publication No. 2010/0076057 (Sontheimer et al., Target DNAInterference with crRNA); U.S. Application Publication No. 2014/0179006(Feng, CRISPR-CAS Component Systems, Methods, and Compositions forSequence Manipulation); U.S. Application Publication No. 2014/0294773(Brouns et al., Modified Cascade Ribonucleoproteins and Uses Thereof);Sorek et al., Annu. Rev. Biochem. 82:273-266, 2013; and Wang, S. et al.,Plant Cell Rep (2015) 34: 1473-1476.

Therefore it is another embodiment to use the CRISPR system on hempcultivar TM1 to modify traits and resistances or tolerances to pests,herbicides, and viruses.

Introduction of a New Trait or Locus into Hemp Cultivar TM1

Hemp cultivar TM1 represents a new variety into which a new locus ortrait may be introgressed. Direct transformation and backcrossingrepresent two important methods that can be used to accomplish such anintrogression. The term backcross conversion and single locus conversionare used interchangeably to designate the product of a backcrossingprogram.

Molecular Techniques Using Hemp Cultivar TM1

The advent of new molecular biological techniques has allowed theisolation and characterization of genetic elements with specificfunctions, such as encoding specific protein products. Scientists in thefield of plant biology developed a strong interest in engineering thegenome of plants to contain and express foreign genetic elements, oradditional, or modified versions of native or endogenous geneticelements in order to “alter” (the utilization of up-regulation,down-regulation, or gene silencing) the traits of a plant in a specificmanner. Any DNA sequences, whether from a different species or from thesame species, which are introduced into the genome using transformationor various breeding methods are referred to herein collectively as“transgenes.” In some embodiments, a transgenic variant of hemp cultivarTM1 may contain at least one transgene. Over the last fifteen to twentyyears several methods for producing transgenic plants have beendeveloped, and another embodiment also relates to transgenic variants ofthe claimed hemp cultivar TM1.

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, includingbiological and physical plant transformation protocols. See, forexample, Gruber, et al., “Vectors for Plant Transformation,” in Methodsin Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick and Thompson Eds.,CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, pp. 89-119 (1993) and Nakagawa T. et al,“Development of series of gateway binary vectors, pGWBs, for realizingefficient construction of fusion genes for plant transformation” Journalof Bioscience and Bioengineering pp 34-41 (2007).

A genetic trait which has been engineered into the genome of aparticular hemp plant may then be moved into the genome of anothervariety using traditional breeding techniques that are well known in theplant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach is commonlyused to move a transgene from a transformed hemp cultivar into analready developed hemp cultivar, and the resulting backcross conversionplant would then comprise the transgene(s).

Various genetic elements can be introduced into the plant genome usingtransformation. These elements include, but are not limited to, genes,coding sequences, inducible, constitutive and tissue specific promoters,enhancing sequences, and signal and targeting sequences. For example,see the traits, genes, and transformation methods listed in U.S. Pat.No. 6,118,055.

Breeding with Molecular Markers

Molecular markers, which includes markers identified through the use oftechniques such as Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment LengthPolymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Arbitrarily PrimedPolymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting(DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Simple SequenceRepeats (SSRs), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) may be usedin plant breeding methods utilizing hemp cultivar TM1.

One use of molecular markers is Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping.QTL mapping is the use of markers, which are known to be closely linkedto alleles that have measurable effects on a quantitative trait.Selection in the breeding process is based upon the accumulation ofmarkers linked to the positive effecting alleles and/or the eliminationof the markers linked to the negative effecting alleles from the plant'sgenome. QTL markers can also be used during the breeding process for theselection of qualitative traits. For example, markers closely linked toalleles or markers containing sequences within the actual alleles ofinterest can be used to select plants that contain the alleles ofinterest during a backcrossing breeding program. The markers can also beused to select for the genome of the recurrent parent and against thegenome of the donor parent. Using this procedure can minimize the amountof genome from the donor parent that remains in the selected plants. Itcan also be used to reduce the number of crosses back to the recurrentparent needed in a backcrossing program. The use of molecular markers inthe selection process is often called genetic marker enhanced selection.Molecular markers may also be used to identify and exclude certainsources of germplasm as parental varieties or ancestors of a plant byproviding a means of tracking genetic profiles through crosses.

Production of Double Haploids

The production of double haploids can also be used for the developmentof plants with a homozygous phenotype in the breeding program. Forexample, a hemp plant for which hemp cultivar TM1 is a parent can beused to produce double haploid plants. Double haploids are produced bythe doubling of a set of chromosomes (1N) from a heterozygous plant toproduce a completely homozygous individual. This can be advantageousbecause the process omits the generations of selfing needed to obtain ahomozygous plant from a heterozygous source. For example, see, M.Maluszynski et al. (eds), Doubled Haploid Production in Crop Plants,(2003).

Thus, an embodiment is a process for making a substantially homozygoushemp cultivar TM1 progeny plant by producing or obtaining a seed fromthe cross of hemp cultivar TM1 and another hemp plant and applyingdouble haploid methods to the F₁ seed or F₁ plant or to any successivefilial generation.

In particular, a process of making seed retaining the molecular markerprofile of hemp cultivar TM1 is contemplated, such process comprisingobtaining or producing F₁ seed for which hemp cultivar TM1 is a parent,inducing doubled haploids to create progeny without the occurrence ofmeiotic segregation, obtaining the molecular marker profile of hempcultivar TM1, and selecting progeny that retain the molecular markerprofile of hemp cultivar TM1.

Expression Vectors for Hemp Transformation: Marker Genes

Plant transformation involves the construction of an expression vectorwhich will function in plant cells. Such a vector comprises DNAcomprising a gene under control of, or operatively linked to, aregulatory element (for example, a promoter). Expression vectors includeat least one genetic marker operably linked to a regulatory element (forexample, a promoter) that allows transformed cells containing the markerto be either recovered by negative selection, i.e., inhibiting growth ofcells that do not contain the selectable marker gene, or by positiveselection, i.e., screening for the product encoded by the geneticmarker. Many commonly used selectable marker genes for planttransformation are well-known in the transformation arts, and include,for example, genes that code for enzymes that metabolically detoxify aselective chemical agent which may be an antibiotic or an herbicide, orgenes that encode an altered target which is insensitive to theinhibitor. A few positive selection methods are also known in the art.

One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant transformation is theneomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene. Another commonly usedselectable marker gene is the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene.

Selectable marker genes for plant transformation not of bacterial origininclude, for example, mouse dihydrofolate reductase, plant5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, and plant acetolactatesynthase (Eichholtz, et al., Somatic Cell Mol. Genet., 13:67 (1987);Shah, et al., Science, 233:478 (1986); Charest, et al., Plant Cell Rep.,8:643 (1990)).

Another class of marker genes for plant transformation requiresscreening of presumptively transformed plant cells, rather than directgenetic selection of transformed cells, for resistance to a toxicsubstance such as an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful toquantify or visualize the spatial pattern of expression of a gene inspecific tissues and are frequently referred to as reporter genesbecause they can be fused to a gene or gene regulatory sequence for theinvestigation of gene expression. Commonly used marker genes forscreening presumptively transformed cells include β-glucuronidase (GUS),β-galactosidase, luciferase, and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase(Jefferson, R. A., Plant Mol. Biol. Rep., 5:387 (1987); Teeri, et al.,EMBO J., 8:343 (1989); Koncz, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84:131(1987); DeBlock, et al., EMBO J., 3:1681 (1984)).

Expression Vectors for Hemp Transformation: Promoters

Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by a nucleotidesequence comprising a regulatory element (for example, a promoter).Several types of promoters are well known in the transformation arts asare other regulatory elements that can be used alone or in combinationwith promoters.

As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNAupstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition andbinding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription.A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription inplant cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control includepromoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues,such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, orsclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as “tissue-preferred.”Promoters that initiate transcription only in a certain tissue arereferred to as “tissue-specific.” A “cell-type” specific promoterprimarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs,for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoteris a promoter which is under environmental control. Examples ofenvironmental conditions that may affect transcription by induciblepromoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light.Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell-type specific, and induciblepromoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A“constitutive” promoter is a promoter that is active under mostenvironmental conditions. Many types of promoters are well known in theart.

Signal Sequences for Targeting Proteins to Subcellular Compartments

Transport of a protein produced by transgenes to a subcellularcompartment, such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome,cell wall, or mitochondrion, or for secretion into the apoplast, isaccomplished by means of operably linking the nucleotide sequenceencoding a signal sequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a gene encodingthe protein of interest. Targeting sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end ofthe structural gene may determine during protein synthesis andprocessing where the encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized.Many signal sequences are well-known in the art. See, for example,Becker, et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 20:49 (1992); Knox, C., et al., PlantMol. Biol., 9:3-17 (1987); Lerner, et al., Plant Physiol., 91:124-129(1989); Frontes, et al., Plant Cell, 3:483-496 (1991); Matsuoka, et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 88:834 (1991); Gould, et al., J Cell. Biol.,108:1657 (1989); Creissen, et al., Plant 1, 2:129 (1991); Kalderon, etal., Cell, 39:499-509 (1984); Steifel, et al., Plant Cell, 2:785-793(1990).

Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes: Transformation

With transgenic plants according to one embodiment, a foreign proteincan be produced in commercial quantities. Thus, techniques for theselection and propagation of transformed plants, which are wellunderstood in the art, yield a plurality of transgenic plants which areharvested in a conventional manner, and a foreign protein can then beextracted from a tissue of interest or from total biomass. Proteinextraction from plant biomass can be accomplished by known methods whichare discussed, for example, by Heney and Orr, Anal. Biochem., 114:92-6(1981).

According to an embodiment, the transgenic plant provided for commercialproduction of foreign protein is a hemp plant. In another embodiment,the biomass of interest is fiber. For the relatively small number oftransgenic plants that show higher levels of expression, a genetic mapcan be generated, primarily via conventional RFLP, PCR, and SSRanalysis, which identifies the approximate chromosomal location of theintegrated DNA molecule. For exemplary methodologies in this regard,see, Glick and Thompson, Methods in Plant Molecular Biology andBiotechnology, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 269:284 (1993). Mapinformation concerning chromosomal location is useful for proprietaryprotection of a subject transgenic plant.

Likewise, by means of one embodiment, plants can be geneticallyengineered to express various phenotypes of agronomic interest. Throughthe transformation of hemp, the expression of genes can be altered toenhance disease tolerance, insect tolerance, herbicide tolerance,agronomic quality, and other traits. Transformation can also be used toinsert DNA sequences which control or help control male-sterility. DNAsequences native to hemps, as well as non-native DNA sequences, can betransformed into hemps and used to alter levels of native or non-nativeproteins. Various promoters, targeting sequences, enhancing sequences,and other DNA sequences can be inserted into the genome for the purposeof altering the expression of proteins. The interruption or suppressionof the expression of a gene at the level of transcription or translation(also known as gene silencing or gene suppression) is desirable forseveral aspects of genetic engineering in plants.

Many techniques for gene silencing are well-known to one of skill in theart, including, but not limited to, knock-outs (such as by insertion ofa transposable element such as Mu (Vicki Chandler, The Maize Handbook,Ch. 118 (Springer-Verlag 1994)) or other genetic elements such as a FRT,Lox, or other site specific integration sites; antisense technology(see, e.g., Sheehy, et al., PNAS USA, 85:8805-8809 (1988) and U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,107,065, 5,453,566, and 5,759,829); co-suppression (e.g., Taylor,Plant Cell, 9:1245 (1997); Jorgensen, Trends Biotech., 8(12):340-344(1990); Flavell, PNAS USA, 91:3490-3496 (1994); Finnegan, et al.,Bio/Technology, 12:883-888 (1994); Neuhuber, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet.,244:230-241 (1994)); RNA interference (Napoli, et al., Plant Cell,2:279-289 (1990); U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,323; Sharp, Genes Dev., 13:139-141(1999); Zamore, et al., Cell, 101:25-33 (2000); Montgomery, et al., PNASUSA, 95:15502-15507 (1998)), virus-induced gene silencing (Burton, etal., Plant Cell, 12:691-705 (2000); Baulcombe, Curr. Op. Plant Bio.,2:109-113 (1999)); target-RNA-specific ribozymes (Haseloff, et al.,Nature, 334:585-591 (1988)); hairpin structures (Smith, et al., Nature,407:319-320 (2000); U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,423,885, 7,138,565, 6,753,139, and7,713,715); MicroRNA (Aukerman & Sakai, Plant Cell, 15:2730-2741(2003)); ribozymes (Steinecke, et al., EMBO J., 11:1525 (1992);Perriman, et al., Antisense Res. Dev., 3:253 (1993)); oligonucleotidemediated targeted modification (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,528,700 and6,911,575); Zn-finger targeted molecules (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.7,151,201, 6,453,242, 6,785,613, 7,177,766 and 7,788,044); and othermethods or combinations of the above methods known to those of skill inthe art.

The foregoing methods for transformation may be used for producing atransgenic variety. The transgenic variety could then be crossed withanother (non-transformed or transformed) variety in order to produce anew transgenic variety. Alternatively, a genetic trait that has beenengineered into a particular hemp cultivar using the foregoingtransformation techniques could be moved into another cultivar usingtraditional backcrossing techniques that are well known in the plantbreeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach could be used tomove an engineered trait from a public, non-elite variety into an elitevariety, or from a variety containing a foreign gene in its genome intoa variety or varieties that do not contain that gene. As used herein,“crossing” can refer to a simple x by y cross or the process ofbackcrossing depending on the context.

Tissue Culture

Further reproduction of the variety can occur by tissue culture andregeneration. Tissue culture of various tissues of cannabis andregeneration of plants therefrom is well-known and widely published.Thus, another aspect or embodiment is to provide cells which upon growthand differentiation produce hemp plants having the physiological andmorphological characteristics of hemp cultivar TM1.

Regeneration refers to the development of a plant from tissue culture.The term “tissue culture” indicates a composition comprising isolatedcells of the same or a different type or a collection of such cellsorganized into parts of a plant. Exemplary types of tissue cultures areprotoplasts, calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that can generatetissue culture that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such asembryos, pollen, flowers, seeds, pods, petioles, leaves, stems, roots,root tips, anthers, pistils, trichomes, and the like. Means forpreparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in theart. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs has been usedto produce regenerated plants. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,959,185, 5,973,234, and5,977,445 describe certain techniques, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

INDUSTRIAL USES

Hemp has a wide variety of uses in the commodity area. Some of uses ofindustrial hemp include paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics,construction, body care products (for example, oils and lotions), food(for example flour, protein powder, coffee, milk, etc.), animal food,and fuel. Hemp pellets are produced from Cannabis woody fibers, alsoknown as “shivs” or “hurds”. The fiber is first separated and goes tomake clothing and other products. The large shiv particles can then beused in construction in combination with lime. After all this processinghas taken place there are small shiv particles remaining which can beprocessed into hemp pellets. Hemp bast fibers are used in thebiocomposite sector as a substitute of glass fibers. The automotiveindustry is particularly keen on using hemp bast fibers to producebioplastics; this material is stronger than polypropylene plastic andlighter in weight.

Also of use are cannabinoids, which are a group of chemical compoundsderived from Cannabis sativa. There are at least 85 differentcannabinoids that can be isolated from cannabis. Cannabinoids are cyclicmolecules exhibiting particular properties, such as the ability toeasily cross the blood-brain barrier, weak toxicity, and few sideeffects. The most notable cannabinoids produced by cannabis areA9-tetrahydrocannabinol (i.e., THC) and cannabidiol (i.e., CBD).Cannabinoids may be formulated as an extract, a tincture, or an oil.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above,further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by study of thefollowing descriptions.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussedabove, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications,permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is thereforeintended that the following appended claims and claims hereafterintroduced are interpreted to include all such modifications,permutations, additions, and sub-combinations as are within their truespirit and scope.

One embodiment may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodimentsare to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and notrestrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Various embodiments, include components, methods, processes, systemsand/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein,including various embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof.Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use anembodiment(s) after understanding the present disclosure.

The foregoing discussion of the embodiments has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intendedto limit the embodiments to the form or forms disclosed herein. In theforegoing Detailed Description for example, various features of theembodiments are grouped together in one or more embodiments for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is notto be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the embodiment(s)requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than allfeatures of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the followingclaims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description.

Moreover, though the description of the embodiments has includeddescription of one or more embodiments and certain variations andmodifications, other variations and modifications are within the scopeof the embodiments (e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge ofthose in the art, after understanding the present disclosure). It isintended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to theextent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalentstructures, functions, ranges or acts to those claimed, whether or notsuch alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions,ranges or acts are disclosed herein, and without intending to publiclydedicate any patentable subject matter.

The use of the terms “a,” “an,” and “the,” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the embodiments (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. Forexample, if the range 10-15 is disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 arealso disclosed. All methods described herein can be performed in anysuitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplarylanguage (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to betterilluminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scopeof the embodiments unless otherwise claimed.

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A seed deposit of the proprietary hemp cultivar TM1 disclosed above andrecited in the appended claims is maintained by the inventor, Todd Muck.A seed deposit was made under the terms of the Budapest Treaty with theProvasoli-Guillard National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota,Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, 60 Bigelow Drive, East Boothbay,Me. 04544 on Jun. 10, 2019 and assigned accession no. 201903001. Accessto this deposit will be available during the pendency of thisapplication to persons determined by the Commissioner of Patents andTrademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 C.F.R. 1.14 and 35 U.S.C. §122. Upon allowance of any claims in this application, all restrictionson the availability to the public of the variety will be irrevocably andwithout restriction or condition removed by affording access to adeposit of the seed of the same variety with Provasoli-Guillard NationalCenter for Marine Algae and Microbiota, Bigelow Laboratory for OceanSciences. The deposit will be maintained in the depository for a periodof 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for the effectivelife of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced ifnecessary during that period.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plant of hemp cultivar TM1, wherein arepresentative sample of seed of said hemp cultivar was deposited underAccession No. NCMA 201903001, and wherein said plant produces femaleinflorescence, said inflorescence comprising a tetrahydrocannabinol(THC) content that is less than 0.3% as measured by high performanceliquid chromatography (HPLC) and calculated based on dry weight of theinflorescence.
 2. The hemp plant of claim 1, wherein said inflorescencecomprises a cannabidiol (CBD) content that is at least 6%, as measuredby high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and calculated based ondry weight of the inflorescence.
 3. A hemp plant, or a part thereof,having all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of thehemp cultivar TM1 of claim
 1. 4. A tissue culture produced fromprotoplasts or cells from the plant of claim 1, wherein said cells orprotoplasts are produced from a plant part selected from the groupconsisting of leaf, pollen, ovule, embryo, cotyledon, hypocotyl,meristematic cell, callus, root, root tip, pistil, anther, flower, seed,shoot, stem, trichome, and petiole.
 5. A hemp plant regenerated from thetissue culture of claim 4, wherein said plant has all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of hemp cultivar TM1. 6.A method of producing a hybrid hemp seed, wherein the method comprisescrossing the plant of claim 1 with a different hemp plant and harvestingthe resultant hybrid hemp seed.
 7. A hybrid hemp seed produced by themethod of claim
 6. 8. A hybrid hemp plant, or a part thereof, producedby growing the seed of claim
 7. 9. A method of introducing a desiredtrait into hemp cultivar TM1, wherein the method comprises: crossing aTM1 plant, wherein a representative sample of seed was deposited underAccession No. NCMA 201903001, with a plant of another hemp cultivar thatcomprises a desired trait to produce F₁ progeny plants; selecting one ormore F₁ progeny plants that have the desired trait; backcrossing theselected F₁ progeny plants with TM1 plants to produce backcross F₂progeny plants; selecting for backcross F₂ progeny plants that have thedesired trait; and backcrossing said selected backcross F₂ progenyplants with TM1 plants two or more times in succession to produceselected third or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise thedesired trait and all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of hemp TM1.
 10. A hemp plant produced by the method ofclaim
 9. 11. The hemp plant of claim 10, wherein the desired trait isselected from the group consisting of herbicide tolerance, insecttolerance, tolerance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, malefertility, male sterility, environmental stress tolerance, modifiedyield, modified oil content, and modified industrial usage.
 12. A methodof producing a hemp plant comprising a desired trait, the methodcomprising introducing a transgene conferring the trait into the plantof claim
 1. 13. A hemp plant produced by the method of claim 12, whereinsaid plant comprises the transgene and all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of hemp cultivar TM1.
 14. A method forproducing a seed of a hemp plant derived from hemp cultivar TM1comprising the steps of: (a) crossing the hemp plant of claim 1 withitself or a second TM1 hemp plant; and (b) allowing seed of an inbredTM1-derived hemp plant to form.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising the steps of: (c) selfing a plant grown from said inbredTM1-derived hemp seed to yield additional inbred TM1-derived hemp seed;(d) growing said additional inbred TM1-derived hemp seed of step (c) toyield additional inbred TM1-derived hemp plants; and (e) repeating thecrossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) to generate an inbredTM1-derived hemp plant.
 16. A method of vegetatively propagating a plantof hemp TM1 comprising the steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable ofbeing propagated from a plant of claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue toobtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots toobtain rooted plantlets.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprisinggrowing plants from said rooted plantlets.
 18. A method of producing acommodity plant product comprising obtaining the plant, or a plant partthereof of claim 1, and producing a commodity plant product therefrom.19. A method of preparing cannabinoid isolates or isolate formulations,wherein the method comprises harvesting flower tissue from the hempplant of claim 1, and extracting cannabinoids from the flower tissue.20. A seed of hemp cultivar TM1, wherein a representative sample of seedof said hemp cultivar was deposited under Accession No. NCMA 201903001.21. The method of claim 18, wherein the commodity plant product is seed,animal feed, paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, constructionmaterial, body care products, food, fuel, or glass fibers.